Danny Bonaduce Biography

Summary

"Dante Daniel 'Danny' Bonaduce" (pronounced ), (born August 13, 1959, in Broomall, Pennsylvania) is an American comedian and actor, as well as a radio and television personality.

The son of veteran TV writer/producer Joseph Bonaduce ("Mayberry RFD", "One Day At A Time", "Good Times"), the naturally redheaded Bonaduce gained prominence as a child actor of the 1970s, co-starring as Shirley Partridge's (played by Shirley Jones) wisecracking second son, Danny Partridge, on the sitcom/television series, "The Partridge Family". Bonaduce's primary current occupation is co-hosting "The Adam Carolla Show". He frequently makes personal appearances in television, radio, and at public events. (... more)

Biography

Bonaduce achieved fame at the age of ten, starring as Danny Partridge on the television series "The Partridge Family". Bonaduce's wisecracking Danny was a constant bane of the family's manager, played by Dave Madden. Bonaduce has said that he owes a lot to Madden, who took him into his home during his family's domestic strife.

By his own account, Bonaduce grew up in a dysfunctional family setting, with physical and emotional abuse from his father. His early fame at the age of ten in "The Partridge Family" led to close relationships with co-stars Shirley Jones and Dave Madden. However, following the end of the series, Bonaduce's late teens and twenties saw drug abuse and a period of homelessness. After a 1977 TV movie about a hijacked passenger plane, which featured Sonny Bono and Farrah Fawcett Majors, the young actor's career withered. But by the late 1980s, Bonaduce had become an on-air radio personality. In the early 1990s David Cassidy signed Bonaduce on as his opening act. Bonaduce found continued opportunities as a professional actor.

In 1985, Bonaduce married real estate agent Setsuko Hattori. They divorced in 1988. On November 4 1990, Bonaduce met his second wife, Gretchen Hillmer, on a blind date. They got married in the seventh hour of their first date. The actor has credited Gretchen with building-up his diminished self image, which had been assailed by both chemical abuse and an arrest for assaulting a male transvestite. On April 9, 2007, Gretchen filed a divorce petition, citing irreconcilable differences. They have two children together, Isabella and Dante. He now has a girlfriend named Amy Railsback, who is a 25 year old substitute teacher from Rocklin, California. They have been together since April 2007.

Career

TV

Bonaduce originally gained fame in the television series "The Partridge Family".

He hosted is own syndicated talk-show, The Danny Bonaduce Show in 1996. It was during this time he brought together the cast of the Partridge Family for a reunion show on his own program.

Bonaduce worked as co-host of "The Other Half", a daytime talk show positioned as a complementary show to "The View", on which he starred with Mario Lopez and Dick Clark. The show aired from 2001 to 2003. During this time, he was also a Hollywood correspondent for the Australian morning show Today

Bonaduce starred in "Breaking Bonaduce", a 2005 reality television show on VH1. In August 2006, he hosted the tabloid-themed game show named "Starface", which aired on the Game Show Network.

Bonaduce frequently appears as a featured guest on television news programs. He has made several controversial statements; on Fox News, Bonaduce stated that Jane Fonda should have been shot for treason for her role in support of the Vietnamese authorities during the Vietnam War. He also stated on MSNBC's Scarborough Country that 'personally I think at this point if anyone had a rope thick enough, I think that Rosie should be strung up for treason', referring to Rosie O'Donnell.

Radio

Bonaduce started his radio career on WEGX in Philadelphia. He then went to KKFR in Phoenix, Arizona, a stint which ended in 1991, after he was charged with assaulting a transvestite prostitute. Bonaduce later achieved success at WLUP in Chicago. Later, he hosted weekday mornings in Detroit, Michigan at WKQI, a stint during which he would fly to Chicago for afternoons at WLUP. Bonaduce began co-hosting the morning drive-time show on Star 98.7 FM (KYSR) in Los Angeles, with Jamie White. He has been a frequent guest on the "Loveline" radio program.

On January 2, 2007, Bonaduce joined "The Adam Carolla Show", replacing Dave Dameshek as Adam Carolla's male co-host. On the program, in April 2007, Bonaduce publicly celebrated one year of sobriety.

In late July 2007, Tmz.com reported that it had obtained documents which stated that Bonaduce earned over $29,000 a month as co-host of "The Adam Carolla Show" and has almost $1 million in stocks and bonds; these documents were in relation to his pending divorce case. (... more)

Other work

As an adult, Bonaduce boxed Donny Osmond in a charity event and later boxed former Brady, Barry Williams, in a separate event. Bonaduce won both contests gaining a decision over Osmond and a TKO over Williams. On June 11, 2007, Bonaduce boxed attorney Robert Shapiro for a charitable event. Bonaduce also wrestled a pro match against Christopher Knight at a WCW pay per view he won that match by pinfall.

In 2002, Bonaduce released an autobiography, "Random Acts of Badness". It has been heralded as a smart, well-written comedic tragedy and was a New York Times bestseller.

Media appearances

Bonaduce made a cameo appearance in a 1994 episode of "Married With Children" along with Partridge Family costar Dave Madden.

Bonaduce received an 'award' from The Soup and refused to read his speech then ended up kissing the host, Joel McHale. This was not scripted.

Bonaduce's self-titled LP was released in 1973 by MGM Records. Bonaduce has admitted that his vocals can barely be heard on the album; most of the singing was provided by Bruce Roberts. (... more) (... more)

Bonaduce has appeared as himself on the detective series "Monk".

Ashley Massaro, current "WWE Smackdown!" diva and winner of the '05 diva search, was Bonaduce's personal trainer.

Bonaduce guest-starred with J.D. Roth on an episode on "Sex Wars". Five years later, Bonaduce would later work with Roth, behind-the-scenes on "Breaking Bonaduce".

Bonaduce guest-starred on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation", Season 7 Episodes 1 and 2. He plays the first victim of the Miniature Killer.

Bonaduce appeared in the fourth season of "The Drew Carey Show" as the son of Shirley Jones's character.

Altercation with Jonny Fairplay

On October 2, 2007, Bonaduce was in an altercation with former reality-show participant Jonny Fairplay during the FOX Reality Channel Reality Awards. Fairplay was on stage towards the end of the Awards show and being booed by the audience, which seemed to perplex Fairplay. Bonaduce walked on stage and told Fairplay the audience reaction was 'because they hate you', and then started walking off the stage without another word.

Fairplay called Bonaduce back and said something to him which the stage microphones did not pick up. Fairplay then lept into Bonaduce's arms, and straddled and humped him, allegedly as a joke - part of Fairplay's shtick.

Bonaduce, who stated that Fairplay's hands near his throat made him uncomfortable, adjusted his balance and his grip on Fairplay and then threw him over his head. This caused Fairplay to hit the stage floor face first.

Bonaduce later stated the two had met occasionally beforehand (and Bonaduce had previously indicated a dislike of Fairplay due to him lying about his grandmother's death on Survivor), but they had never actually fought before. While Bonaduce did not believe Fairplay was significantly hurt at the time, TMZ.com subsequently reported that Fairplay bled significantly, lost some teeth and suffered a broken toe. Fairplay may also have struggled with firefighters and/or medics trying to assist him.

Fairplay pressed charges and police opened a felony battery investigation with Bonaduce as the named suspect. Bonaduce maintained his innocence and stated he was acting in self-defense. Bonaduce also stated he expects to be sued by Fairplay and if so, will counter sue. On October 5, 2007, the L.A. district attorney's office concluded that there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Bonaduce had committed battery because Fairplay had initiated the contact and Bonaduce had acted in self-defense.

The incident has become an internet sensation, being featured on Yahoo.com's website and having thousands of views on YouTube in less than 24 hours.

Other

In 1991, he was arrested for beating up Darius Barney, a transvestite street prostitute. 'When I picked him up,' Bonaduce later explained, 'I thought he was a girl. I picked him up, he got in my car. As soon as he got in and the dome light hit him, it was obvious. He wasn't a good transvestite. If he was a good transvestite, I might never had known. I was wasted. He gets in the car and I said, 'Oh, sorry, wrong car.' And he says, 'Well you took me off my corner, give me $40.00.' I said 'Dude, wrong car, hop out!' This went on for 6 or 7 minutes and he still wouldn't get out. So I get out of the car, opened his door and pulled him out of the car. But when I did, I see he's this huge guy, about 220 pounds. I weighed 150 pounds! I attacked him first, not because I wanted to, I just thought I was going to have to and I'm too small to take the punishment from a 220-pound man. If he had hit first, I would have gone down and stayed down. So I attacked him and it turned into a fight'.